I remember this being discussed in the blog post about the reintroduction of silver, where someone suggested printing multiple parts (For earrings, as an example) but connecting them with small pieces that can be broken off after delivery. I was wondering if anyone had tried this yet and how much trouble it would be. I'd hate to sell someone a pair of earrings only for them to discover they can't get them apart.

They've always accepted models in multiple parts. The issue is that they specifically said we can't print multiple parts in silver. This, as I understand it, is mainly due to the extra effort it takes to process models in this material.

I would also like to know the outcome of this, as I wish to print parts in pairs and it seems inefficient (cost wise) to take this as two prints.

I have a pendant I wish to print, but it is in two parts, one for him and the other for her. His is much smaller than hers, hence the need to keep the cost down for both.

I think the issue would be in keeping the parts connected, as they use wax as the print. You may have to join the pair together with a reletively large join and then saw through the join and polish it out afterwards....That is what I might try in any case.

I would try having them very close together with a minimal sized connector. If it's smaller then the mass it's connecting, and seeing silver is a fairly soft metal, you may be able to bend it back and forth to break it.

I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me. -Maya Angelou
michael@shapeways.com Community Advocate

There are two reasons why bridging multiple parts together is not an option. First understand that SW Silver parts are not direct to metal prints. They are lost wax castings produced from wax prints! Adding tiny bridges in wax media (or any brittle media) makes process handling a nightmare. This alone disqualifies the option. However, more to the point; in a production casting shop, groups of wax models actually are first connected together by a network of wax channels known as sprue's. Both art and science goes into determining proper sprue locations and this task is always left to the casting technicians.
I suppose you could design bridges that would unify multiple parts for DIY removal/disassembly, but these would have to be substantial enough to withstand process handling and more importantly, to allow proper metal flow during the casting phase. There would really be no advantage in going this route and there are certainly more cost effective ways to produce silver scrap.

-G

"Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art."
Leonardo da Vinci

Assuming the $70 is for a pair (the title is plural, 2 are pictured in the renderings, the size listed appears to correspond to a pair, and it doesn't say order 2) it will be impossible for any member to compete with that price. With a minimum of $80 for a pair of separately ordered cufflinks that puts us $20 over shapeways price with NO markup for plain silver, and $30 over shapeways price for glossy silver.

I really hope shapeways adjusts their policy on multiple items. I understand the concern with the silver process but with the $40 minimum model cost it is going to be real hard to be competitive, not to mention they save on shipping items like earrings and cufflinks which are obviously ordered in pairs.

Hey guys, I've been following this thread and I totally understand your concerns. $80 for earrings does seem steep, and since earrings don't take too much material (otherwise they'd get too heavy), I understand why you'd want them together.

To that end, we will start accepting multiple parts, well 2 parts, per pricing for earrings and cufflinks only (and if there are any other natural left-right pairings like earrings and cufflinks, though at the moment I can't think of any). Other items will be rejected or given a custom quote.

The reason is there is a lot of handling cost per part (cleaning, casting, polishing), which is why we need the flat fee to start. It would just be too pricey otherwise, and to cover our costs we would then have to raise costs for everybody.

I'll make a blog post and make this announcement official soon, but wanted to give you guys a heads up.

Hey guys, I've been following this thread and I totally understand your concerns. $80 for earrings does seem steep, and since earrings don't take too much material (otherwise they'd get too heavy), I understand why you'd want them together.

To that end, we will start accepting multiple parts, well 2 parts, per pricing for earrings and cufflinks only (and if there are any other natural left-right pairings like earrings and cufflinks, though at the moment I can't think of any). Other items will be rejected or given a custom quote.

The reason is there is a lot of handling cost per part (cleaning, casting, polishing), which is why we need the flat fee to start. It would just be too pricey otherwise, and to cover our costs we would then have to raise costs for everybody.

I'll make a blog post and make this announcement official soon, but wanted to give you guys a heads up.